Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1887-04-21


or took long gallops on horseback over the
surrounding country. that reminded one OF
Guizots saying: "Gentlemen, you cannot get
high enough to reach the level of my con-
tempt" He had come back from England q
free man. He was slowly losing the name Of
Erred Douglass, tho runaway Niger" He
stood at bay with the bitter prejudices Of the
community. The mission to which he had
devoted himselt-the emancipation of his peo-
ple-had the sympathy OF but an Ostracised
minority. He lectured continuously. The
office of The North Star, his weekly paper,
was a beacon light of abolitionism. The New
York Herald wondered why Rochester did
not throw the Niger printing press and its
editor into Lake Ontario. Few knew what
hard work the editor of Tho North Star was
ioing in those days-hardly ten years out of
bondage-fettered by a crude and narrow
education, he must educate himself, write
creditably for the public and maintain his
reputation as public speaker His home
was blest with the best of housekeepers
His wife, a free woman, had dono
much to aI L.m in getting liza
freedom. They lived most respectfully,
and their children were remarkably well
bred; in fact, there was an aristocratic air
about the Douglass children that saved them
from world of snubbing. Foreigners of
distinction came to Rochester to see Freder-
lex Douglass, for he was then more of a Curl
osity than now. The event which somewhat
overheated the blood of conservative Roches-
ter was when two English ladies arrived and
became members Of the Douglass household,
walking openly on the street with the distin-
guishe,l mulatto, one on either arm as rule,
their English dress and peculiarities making
them otherwise conspicuous. They were
ladies Of means and education. jealous Abo-
litionists. who had chosen to come and aid
Frederick Dougless all they could The
younger of them was soon married to
prominent Abo!itionist, white man. The
elder, woman of superior literary and
executive ability, braved out her so
journ in the Douglass family and
office for several years, seemingly oblivious
of the comments of the community. Her assist
ance to Frederick Douglass at this critical
and laborious time of his life was to him at
least invaluable. She urged him to rewrite
his autobiography, which had been published
in Boston in 1915, which he did, improving it
greatly by additions and amplifications. The
book, my Bondage and My Freedom" still
has a large sale. 1t was the basis of its
writer's present prosperity. He wrote it in
the rambling house on the hill south of the
IIb4, ttlc houSc III Ooufl DTOWH, tES us
guest, planned the raid on Harpers Ferry
and built his miniature forts John Brown
wrote out the constitution of his proposed new
republic in the library of that house. taking
long tramps over the hills while formulating
the same. The visit was something of bore
to Douglass, but Douglass was hospita-
BILE, and, although not approving of
Browns scheme, had respect for
the old mans convictions. 1t was from
that house Douglass barely escaped, after
John Browns arrest, when the marshals were
looking for him. The old library desk bears
the marks to-day of its having been broken
open by his son, in answer to a secret tele-
gram, saving that constitution from falling
into the hands Of the officers. 1t was there
his daughter Annie died, not long after his
fight, her illness causei by anxiety about her
father. The historical old house was de-
stroyed by fire in 1872. The locality has
greatly changed since. The Douglass home
stood isolated on the woody hill side. Not
long before going to Europe Douglass wrote |
to a friend in Rochester to see what resi- |
dence iii the old neighborhood could be bought |
fora handsome house AMI grounds he would !
like-but be has not yet purchased. The present |
Mrs. Douglass Is from western New York |
her old home being some thirty miles from !
who settled Pittsford.
A marked characteristic Of Frederick !
Douglass is his love for music When but |
little fellow he would go up to "the great |
house" to hear the violin play for the dancers. !
The fiddler, he says, did not play common |
airs, but the best music, and while he listened |
the little yellow boy under the window forgot |
everything else. Love of music drew him to |
the Methodist meetings, for the singing was |
music to him, and he joined in with will. |
It was at these meetings he began to speak i'm
public, and discovered bow well be could talk
and the pleasure in being praised for the
same. When Sunday school exhibition by
the free negroes was In prospect he found
chance for exercising his budding oratory.
He bought speaker" with the tips" hi,
master had given him for backing boots, and
'ele"ted piece with plenty of big words
} college grafton wherein was expounded